Swiss Cantons Face Mandatory French Language Education Reform

Federal government considers legislation to enforce French language teaching in German-speaking cantons to maintain national cohesion

AI

The Federal Council announced on September 19th that it will draft a law to force cantons to teach a second national language in primary schools.
Appenzell Ausserrhoden dropped French from its primary curriculum in March.
Zurich removed French from primary schools in September, followed immediately by St. Gallen.
The Interior Ministry is preparing two legislative options: enshrining the 'HarmoS' solution or a looser requirement for a second national language by the end of lower secondary school.